Keep up with the latest weather developments from the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a major severe weather outbreak for Middle Tennessee on Friday, March 2. An initial wave of thunderstorms is expected very late Thursday night and into early Friday morning. These storms may be strong with large hail.
After Friday morning’s storms, there will likely be a break in the weather with temperatures soaring well into the 70s or low 80s. Scattered storms are expected to develop quickly starting in the afternoon, with rapid intensification. The coverage of storms will increase through the afternoon, with a squall line eventually forming and moving across the area by evening. Damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail are all possible, including strong, fast-moving, long-track tornadoes.
Vanderbilt Severe Weather Warning System
Vanderbilt contracts with a commercial weather monitoring company to warn the university of severe weather approaching Vanderbilt’s main campus and Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks. If a tornado is detected and is within 15 minutes of reaching either campus, the Vanderbilt Severe Weather Warning System is enacted.
Electronic sirens on the main campus will sound, and overhead announcements at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks will notify of a severe weather threat.
The Vanderbilt siren has a distinctive tone, similar to an air raid siren. Click here to listen to a sound sample of Vanderbilt’s electronic sirens.
Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County may also sound its sirens; however, the Metro sirens are not specific to Vanderbilt and are activated when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for anywhere in the Davidson County area. The city’s sirens are high-pitched and have a steady, continuous tone. Click here for more information about the Metro Nashville sirens.
AlertVU
Vanderbilt’s emergency notification system, AlertVU, will also be enacted during a severe weather threat. AlertVU is designed to send rapid messages to the delivery points a subscriber chooses – cell phone (voice or text), land line phone or email account – in the event of an emergency that poses an imminent threat or danger to the Vanderbilt community. AlertVU is available free* to students, faculty and staff on a voluntary, opt-in basis. Information is private and will not be shared.
To register, update an existing account or find out more, visit the AlertVU website.
*There is no charge to receive AlertVU messages. If you choose to receive text messages, however, your cell phone carrier may charge you to receive them.
Tornado Warnings: What to Do
When the tornado sirens on campus and the overhead announcements at the medical center and One Hundred Oaks sound, Vanderbilt Environmental Health and Safety asks that you warn others around you of the severe weather conditions, then:
- Seek shelter inside the closest building;
- Move away from windows, lobbies and doors to the most interior portion of the building or area of best refuge;
- Assist persons with special needs;
- Monitor TV and radio for additional information.
For more information about preparing for severe weather, visit the Emergency Preparedness and Planning website. Also, updated tornado posters with information and instructions on what to do in a weather emergency are available and free to anyone on campus.
Contact: Johnny Vanderpool, (615) 343-4804
johnny.vanderpool@vanderbilt.edu